Rafter-cut-marking tool



April 28, `v1925.

1,535,907 F; J. DESHLER RAFTER CUT MARKING TOOL Filed ont. 18 i923 2 sheets-sheet l Yea.

` Patented Apr. as, 1925.

FRANKLIN Josnrn nnsnrna, or satira ANA, @astrorama f Application filed Getober 18, 1923. Serial No. 669,352.

To (1U fio/1,0m may concern:

, Be it known that I, FRANKLIN JosErI-I 'Dusnnniu a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Ana, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Iafter-` CuiMai-king Tools; and I -do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactrdescription of the invention, such as Will enable' others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to tools for markingthe proper cuts for common rafters, jacks, cripples, `valley jacks, etc., and While I am awarethat numerous devices have been provided forthis purpose, the majority ofthern have been of such complicated construction and have' included such intricate scales, charts and the like, as to be practically of no value, unless used by a Well educated Workman. It is the object of my invention however to provide an exceptionally simple tool which is free `of the objections, above pointed out, yet will be extremely accurate.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel` subject matterv hereinaftervdescribed and claimed, the description being supplemented `by the accompanying drawings. i i i y Figures 1jand`2-are respectively a side elevation and an edge vievv of the tool in position upon a rafter.

Figure 3 is a tranverse sectional view as Y indicated by line SW3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4. is a detail sectional vien7 on line M4 of Fig. 1.4

Figure 5 isa detail section throughone of the positioning devices which engage the edge of a rafter being marked, as indicated by line`5-5 of Fig. 1. v

Figure G is a sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. j i y j Figure 7 is an elevation of one of the wings which are used for marking the edges of the rafters.

Figure 8 is a sectional vieiv on line 8 8 etnie. 7.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a flat blade adapted to extend across either side of a rafter i and provided with a straight edge 2 alongV which the side of the rafter is to be marked. Extending rigidly from one end of the blade 1, and proj ectingy obliquely from the edge 2 of said blade, are tWo arms?) which diverse 'omach @ber .faric @new struction shown, cach arm 3 is provided with a longitudinal slot 6. j

Contacting `with the inner sides' of the arms 3, are two flat Wings 7 Which diverge from the marking edge 2 and are themselves provided With-marking edges 8, either one of which is adapted to extend across one edge of a rafter, for marking the line of cut. Y In the construction shown, the Wings 7 areprovided with slots 9 transverse vto the slots 6, and clamping bolts 10 having suitable wing-nuts 11, are passed through said slots to clamp the Wings against the arms, while permitting adjustment of said Wings into different angular relations With the blade 1. i j

A clamp 12 is mounted adjustably upon the edge ofthe blade 1, remote from the marking edge 2. and this clamp is provided with portions 13 at opposite sides of the "blade-either one of which is adapted to contact Witlrtlie edge of a rafter, according to the sidc of the latter against'ivhich the blade is positioned. The function for these portions will be hereinafter described.

At the end of the blade 1, adjacent the ar1ns3, I have shovvna projecting ear 14, to Which a clip or the like 15 is pivoted by a suitable clamping bolt 16, said clip carrying an arm 17 which is positioned in a plane through the center of the tool, such plane being parallel With the lopposite sides of the blade 1. `The free end of the arm 17 is preferably. flattened and widened as indicated at 18", so thatitmay engage the edge of a rafterupon Which the tool is used. The function of this arm vvill also be described hereinafter.

The device is exceptionally easy to operate. `First, the carpenter locates the proper plumb line for a rafter of desired pitch, such line being drawn across one side of the rafter. Then, the blade 1` is positioned against the rafter with the straight edge 2 disposed along said line. This having been done, the clamp 12 is adjusted until one of its portions 13 comes in contact with theA edge of the rafter. Then, the arm 17 is swung inwardly until its end 18 contacts with the rafter, it being understood that beth Parts 12 and. 1,7 are tightly clamped. is

the position to which they are moved. Then, by loosening the proper nut 1l, the Wing 7 extending across the edge of the raiter, may be adjusted until the marking edge 8 oontacts with said edge of the rafter, throughout its length. rihen, the nut is again tightened. The entire tool is then transferred to the other side ot the raflter and the other projecting portion 13 is placed against one edge ot the latter, as is also the portion 1S ot the arm 1T. Then. the other Wing 7 is properly adjusted and the tool is thus in readiness tor accurately marking the necessary guide lines across the side oiC any raiier and its edge.

I have found that with a single set ol; wings 7, I am enabled to mark rat'ters foi any pitch root', up to one-halt pitch. For steeper roots, another set ot wings mustbe substituted for the wings 7 lt will be seen from the foregoingthat practically no trouble is experienced in properly setting of the various cuts on the numerous kinds o't rafters used. Furthermore. the invention is unusually simple and hence, rather inexpensive and is not liable to get out of adjustment when once iirmly set.

Excellent results have been obtained from the details disclosed and they are therefore preferably followed, but within the scope ot the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made.

I claimt l. A. raft/er cnt marking tool comprising a blade provided with a marking edge, a pair ot rigid converging arms extending from one rend of said blade and having fiat sides in planes oblique to the sides of said blade, and V[iat Wings held against said fiat sides ot said arms and having marking edges exteni'ling obliquely to the marking edge of said -blade for n'iar'king ratter edges.

2; A. ratter cut marking tool comprising a blade provided with a marking` edge, a pair el: rigid converging arms extending from one end ot said blade and having tlat sides in planes oblique to the sides of the blade, ilat Wings contacting slidably With said flat sides of said arms and having marking edges extending `obliquely to the marking the tool ior marking any` edge of said blade for marking ratter edges, and means for clamping said Wings against said arms in diti'erent adjusted positions,

3. AY ratter cut marking tool comprising a blade provided With a marking edge, a rigid arm extending from said marking edge and having a ilat side in a plane oblique to the sides oi said blade, and a fiat Wing contacting slidably with said ilat side of said arm and having a marking edge extending obliquely to the marking edge ot said blade ttor marking an edge ot the rat'ter, said Wing and blade having a-ngularly related slots, and elan'ipii'ig means passing through said slots tor Securing the wing to the arm in any adjusted position.

+L. A raiter cut marking tool comprising a blade having a marking edge, a pair ot' wings diverging trom said markiiig edge and extending obliquely trom the opposite sides ot said blade, said Wings having markingl edges extending obliquely to the marking edge ot said blade for marking an edge ot the rafter, and latter-engaging j'iositioning means carried by the tool and extending oppositely from a plane through the center thereof.

5. A ra'iter eut marking tool comprising a blade having a marking edge, a pair ot Wings diverging from said marking edge and extending obliquely from the oppositie sides et said blade, said Wings having mark-ing edges extending obliquely to the marking edge of said blade for marking an edge of the raiter, al latter-engaging positioning device adjustably carried by and extending laterally in opposite directions 'from said blade, and another ra'ter-engaging positioning device adjustably carried by the tool in spaced relation with the tirst named device, said other device having a portion eiiteiiding laterally in opposite directions from a plane through the center ot the tool.

G. A struc-ture as specified in claim 5: said other positioning device consisting ot an arm and means pivotally and adjustably connecting the salme with said blade.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto at- ?.ed my signature.

FRANKLIN JOSEPH DESHLER. 

